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ESTHER SUPPLICATES FOR THE JEWS.

father's house might now be considered as beyond the malice of their enemies. She intreated that the fatal decree might be reversed; but it had gone forth, written in the king's name, and sealed with his seal; not

even the king himself could recal it. Full power, however, was given to Esther and Mordecai to write for the Jews: what could be done, was done; they were allowed to stand in their own defence. As this was by the royal authority, it was signified to the rulers of every province by special messengers on swift beasts, despatched by means of the establishment for that purpose, said to have been devised by Cyrus for expediting intelligence from all parts of his dominions. These post stations were in every part of the empire, at distances of twenty-five or thirty miles from each other, messengers and horses being always in readiness.

Many who would have sought the lives of the Jews and their spoil, would give up the attempt, especially as the news of Mordecai's advancement, with the rejoicing of the Jews, had such an effect, that a number

THEIR DELIVERANCE.

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of the heathen professed themselves proselytes to the Jewish faith. This was because "the fear of the Jews fell upon them;" there is too much reason to think, that they did not profess themselves followers of Jehovah from conviction of their spiritual state, but from interested motives.

The high favour enjoyed by Mordecai is recorded, Esth. viii. 15, where it is stated that he went forth in purple and white, colours appropriated to the king, also with a crown or turban, encircled by a diadem, on his head.

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the Jews assembled in their cities, to lay hands on such as sought their hurt. The royal officers helped them; their enemies were defeated and slain. Haman's sons were among those who fell. In remembrance of this deliverance, the feast of Purim was instituted, to be observed on the 14th and 15th of the month Adar. The name of this feast is derived from the Persian word, Pur, which signifies, "a lot ;" Haman having "cast Pur," that is, the lot, to consume the Jews, and to destroy them. The deliverance is commemorated by the Jews at the present day. The feast is observed, the book of Esther is read in the synagogues, and loud execrations are uttered at the name of Haman.

The parentage of Esther was now fully known. The Jews had shown themselves a loyal people; they had not joined the Egyptians, or in any way disturbed the empire, but were favoured by the king, who raised Mordecai to be next in authority to himself, Esth. x. 3. It is added, "he was great among the Jews," (then the only professed worshippers of the true God,) "and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth" (welfare)" of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed." It would be well if every minister of state sought that a similar record of his administration should be made.

The above account is a summary of the remarkable book which bears the name of the Persian queen of Hebrew parentage. The narrative is very instructive;

few, indeed, are called to act in spheres like those of Mordecai and Esther; but let every one endeavour, in like manner, to discharge the duties of their more lowly stations, and to live in the self-denial and selfdevotion they displayed.

A building, at the site of the ancient Ecbatana, is

shown as the ancient tomb of Esther and Mordecai. But the present edifice was built long after that time, in place of a monument destroyed by Timour Beg. An inscription refers to that more ancient building, which, however, only goes back to about A.D. 250, as the period of the erection of that structure by two devout Jews. Two sarcophagi are preserved, as those of the queen and her uncle; they are of a dark hard wood, richly carved. The following translations of inscriptions in this tomb are from Porter.

On the sarcophagus of Esther. "I praise thee, O God, that thou hast created me. I know that my sins merit punishment, yet I hope for mercy at thy hands: for whenever I call upon thee thou art with me; thy

holy presence secures me from all evil. My heart is at ease, and my fear of thee increases. My life became at the last, through thy goodness, full of peace. O God, shut not my soul out from thy Divine presence. Those whom thou lovest never feel the torments of hell. Lead me, O merciful Father, to the life of life; that I may be filled with the heavenly fruits of paradise! Esther."

On the sarcophagus of Mordecai. "It is said by David, Preserve me, O God! I am now in thy presence. I have cried at the gate of heaven, that thou art my God; and what goodness I have I received from thee, O Lord!-Those whose bodies are now beneath in this earth, when animated by thy mercy were great; and whatever happiness was bestowed upon them in this world came from thee, O God! Their grief and sufferings were many, but they became happy because they always called upon thy holy name in their afflictions. Thou liftedst me up, and I became powerful. Thine enemies sought to destroy me in the early times of my life; but the shadow of thine hand was upon me, and covered me as a tent from their wicked purposes. Mordecai."

The Jew, as the royal steed he strode,

Through the thickening crowds in silence rode;
Grave was his mien, and calm his brow,
Undazzled, unmoved by the glittering show;
That stedfast soul which did not fear

The heathen's menace, the heathen's sneer;
Had known too long the favour and smile
Of the world, to be duped by its artful guile.
His heart in solemn prayer arose

To his only defence, when encompassed with foes;
To the Author of all that brightened his days,
The stay of his soul, and the theme of his praise;
His thoughts to captive Israel roam,

To the land of his birth, and his distant home;
And much he prayed that the Sun which gleamed
Tho' briefly and dimly, once more to have beamed
On the captive sons of Israel, might

Break forth and shine with its former light.

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NEHEMIAH OBTAINS LEAVE TO GO TO JERUSALEM, AND REBUILD THE WALLS-HIS REFORM-HE SILENCES THE ENEMIES OF THE JEWS.

THE time when the Persian monarchs were interested to favour the Jews, by restoring their state, was now come here we see how God overrules the devices and projects of men, for the support and enlargement of his church. In the sixteenth year of his reign, B.C. 450, Artaxerxes, who having subdued the Egyptians, had engaged in warfare against their allies, the Athenians, was defeated. Cimon, the Athenian, gained victories over both the land and naval forces

of his opponents. The Persian monarch was thereby compelled to make peace upon terms humbling and